288  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.    { AmjJ^l^9&Tm- 
turb  it ;  with  oxalate  of  ammonia  it  gives  oxalate  of  lime ;  solutions 
acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid  are  precipitated  by  iodohydrargy- 
rate  of  potash  and  phosphomolybdate  of  soda.  "  It  is  this  reaction — 
common  to  alkaloids — which  lead  certain  authors  to  believe  that  stro- 
phanthus  contained  an  alkaloid."  In  treating  a  concentrated  solution 
of  strophantate  of  lime  with  sulphuric  acid  until  a  cessation  of  precipi- 
tate, filtering,  then  precipitating  with  a  large  excess  of  alcohol,  and 
in  again  taking  up  the  precipitate  with  alcohol  of  70  percent.,  M.  Catil- 
lon  isolated  the  azotized  substance  which  was  combined  with  lime. — 
Repert.  dephar.,  April  10. 
Phenate  of  Caffeine. — The  mixing  of  equal  equivalents  of 
pure  phenol  and  crystallized  caffeine  gives  a  true  crystalline  combina- 
tion which  is  very  soluble  in  water.  Concentrated  solutions  of  this 
produce  no  irritation  when  applied  to  mucous  membranes.  For  hypo- 
dermic injections  a  solution  of  10  per  cent,  phenic  acid,  with  q.  s.  of 
caffeine  may  be  used. — M.  A.  Petit;  J.  de ph.  et  de  ch.,  April  1. 
Incompatibility  of  Acid  Fruit  Syrups  with  Caffeine  and 
Benzoate  of  Soda. — M.  Raynaud  wished  to  keep  a  preparation  of 
caffeine  and  benzoate  of  soda  in  gooseberry  syrup.  The  mixture  was  at 
first  clear ;  but  long,  needle  crystals  were  soon  deposited  upon  the  sides 
of  the  container,  and  these  he  found  to  be  of  benzoic  acid.  The  rem- 
edy consists  in  adding  a  small  quantity  of  bicarbonate  of  soda  to  solu- 
tions of  caffeine  previously  made  soluble  by  the  addition  of  benzoate 
of  soda. — Bull,  de  ph.  de  Lyon;  Repert.  de  Phar.,  April  10. 
Incompatibility  of  Dry  Antipyrine  and  Salicylate  of 
Soda. — M.  P.  Vigier  finds  that  if  these  substances  are  mixed  dry,  as 
for  cachets,  an  oily  body  forms  within  a  few  hours,  thus  injuring  the 
powder  or  cachet,  and  showing  in  fact  an  undesirable  decomposition. 
The  reaction  of  the  formed  substance  is  alkaline.  The  reaction  of 
aqueous  solutions  of  these  bodies  is,  when  united,  slightly  acid.  Mixed 
solutions  of  antipyrine  and  salicylate  of  soda  remain  limpid  indefinitely 
and  without  apparent  change.— Repei^t  de  Phar.,  May  10. 
Decomposition  of  Iodoform  Solutions. — Ethereal  solutions 
of  iodoform  become  very  unstable  as  they  approach  saturation.  In 
solutions  of  alcoholized  ether,  decomposition  is  retarded,  but  it  occurs 
— setting  free  iodine — even  when  the  solution  is  kept  from  the  action 
of  light.  The  altered  solution  may  be  agitated  with  a  globule  of 
mercury  which  unites  with  the  free  iodine,  and  the  ethereal  solution, 
no  longer  saturated,  becomes  more  stable.    Chloroformic  solutions 
